In this chapter, Prelude to the Crisis, it begins with Odysseus lying down to sleep debating when and how to attack the suitors while his anger is burning up in him. Athene visits him during this time and tells him not to worry and that he will defeat the Suitors. As this is going on Penelope awakens full of dread thinking of her husband and praying to Zeus to kill her because she would rather be dead still married to Odysseus than die with the heart of one of her Suitors. Odysseus hears Penelope and pleads to Zeus to send a good omen in and outside of the house and then after he has spoken to Zeus, the god created a large clap of thunder in the sky and the maid was talking with scorn about the men trying to take his wife because of her exhausting corn grinding. The omens were sent and in the morning Odysseus met with Eumaeus and then spoke to the cowherd, Philoetius, who speaks of Odysseus kindly. Later, the Suitors met to discuss their plans to kill Telemachus but again the resourceful Suitor, Amphinomus is able to convince the other Suitors that their plan will not succeed. Telemachus then addresses the Suitors about keeping all of their different ways to a minimum which is offensive to them all. During the dinner one of the Suitors, Ctesippus, thinks it would be amusing to throw a cow’s hoof at Odysseus because he has been so well taken care of. This angers Telemachus to the point of almost killing the man. The men courting his mother found his anger to be hilarious but as soon as their humor began it ended with an omen of blood covering the walls and staining their cheeks as ghosts were seen along their porch which Theoclymenus interprets as their catastrophe that none of the Suitors will survive.
Major Themes: (Raina)
Justice
p.266: Odysseus tries to decide whether to punish the Suitors' mistresses.
p.268: The woman at the mill prays to Zeus to punish the Suitors and bring Odysseus back.
p.272: Odysseus promises the cowherd that Odysseus will return and slaughter the Suitors.
p.274: Athena fuddled the Suitors' minds to make them laugh then cry.
Loyalty
p.267: Penelope prays to Artemis to kill her because she would rather die still being faithful to Odysseus than belong to the Suitors.
p.268: The woman at the mill is still loyal to Odysseus and wishes revenge on the Suitors.
p.271: The cowherd knows the evils of the Suitors and hopes that Odysseus is still alive.
Growth and Development of Telemachus
p.273: Telemachus stands up for the beggar and says that he is no longer the child he once was and he will stand up for his property.
Locations Traveled (and mentioned): (Maddie M)
Odysseus and Penelopes palace
Study Guide Questions:
Who appears to Odysseus when he can’t sleep? (Madi)
The Suitor's regular mistresses.
What are the two problems Odysseus asks her about? (Giselle)
1. How to get his hands on the suitors.
2. Where will he go to escape vengeance.
Who does Penelope pray to when she wakes up? Why? (Giselle)
Odysseus to take away her pain by putting an arrow through her heart. So she doesn’t have to marry a suitor.
Why is Penelope so upset? (Giselle)
She doesn’t want to have to marry a suitor.
What omen does the woman in the mill pray about? (Giselle)
So she wouldn’t have to grind corn anymore for the suitors.
What does Odysseus tell the cowherd? (Breana)
he tells him that he is a honorable man who can be trusted. He also says that he will see the killing of the suitors.
Why do the suitors think that their plot to kill Telemachus won’t succeed? (Breana)
they think it wont succeed because they believe Odysseus will return.
What does Ctesippus throw at Odysseus? (Breana)
He throws a chair at him.
What omen does Theoclymenus see at the table? (Breana)
Chapter 20 - Prelude to the Crisis
Summary: (Ali)
In this chapter, Prelude to the Crisis, it begins with Odysseus lying down to sleep debating when and how to attack the suitors while his anger is burning up in him. Athene visits him during this time and tells him not to worry and that he will defeat the Suitors. As this is going on Penelope awakens full of dread thinking of her husband and praying to Zeus to kill her because she would rather be dead still married to Odysseus than die with the heart of one of her Suitors. Odysseus hears Penelope and pleads to Zeus to send a good omen in and outside of the house and then after he has spoken to Zeus, the god created a large clap of thunder in the sky and the maid was talking with scorn about the men trying to take his wife because of her exhausting corn grinding. The omens were sent and in the morning Odysseus met with Eumaeus and then spoke to the cowherd, Philoetius, who speaks of Odysseus kindly. Later, the Suitors met to discuss their plans to kill Telemachus but again the resourceful Suitor, Amphinomus is able to convince the other Suitors that their plan will not succeed. Telemachus then addresses the Suitors about keeping all of their different ways to a minimum which is offensive to them all. During the dinner one of the Suitors, Ctesippus, thinks it would be amusing to throw a cow’s hoof at Odysseus because he has been so well taken care of. This angers Telemachus to the point of almost killing the man. The men courting his mother found his anger to be hilarious but as soon as their humor began it ended with an omen of blood covering the walls and staining their cheeks as ghosts were seen along their porch which Theoclymenus interprets as their catastrophe that none of the Suitors will survive.Major Themes: (Raina)
Justice- p.266: Odysseus tries to decide whether to punish the Suitors' mistresses.
- p.268: The woman at the mill prays to Zeus to punish the Suitors and bring Odysseus back.
- p.272: Odysseus promises the cowherd that Odysseus will return and slaughter the Suitors.
- p.274: Athena fuddled the Suitors' minds to make them laugh then cry.
Loyalty- p.267: Penelope prays to Artemis to kill her because she would rather die still being faithful to Odysseus than belong to the Suitors.
- p.268: The woman at the mill is still loyal to Odysseus and wishes revenge on the Suitors.
- p.271: The cowherd knows the evils of the Suitors and hopes that Odysseus is still alive.
Growth and Development of TelemachusLocations Traveled (and mentioned): (Maddie M)
Odysseus and Penelopes palaceStudy Guide Questions:
Who appears to Odysseus when he can’t sleep? (Madi)The Suitor's regular mistresses.
What are the two problems Odysseus asks her about? (Giselle)
1. How to get his hands on the suitors.
2. Where will he go to escape vengeance.
Who does Penelope pray to when she wakes up? Why? (Giselle)
Odysseus to take away her pain by putting an arrow through her heart. So she doesn’t have to marry a suitor.
Why is Penelope so upset? (Giselle)
She doesn’t want to have to marry a suitor.
What omen does the woman in the mill pray about? (Giselle)
So she wouldn’t have to grind corn anymore for the suitors.
What does Odysseus tell the cowherd? (Breana)
he tells him that he is a honorable man who can be trusted. He also says that he will see the killing of the suitors.
Why do the suitors think that their plot to kill Telemachus won’t succeed? (Breana)
they think it wont succeed because they believe Odysseus will return.
What does Ctesippus throw at Odysseus? (Breana)
He throws a chair at him.
What omen does Theoclymenus see at the table? (Breana)